Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Exploring Utah - Cecret Lake and Albion Basin Trails (Alta Area)

This is the last (at least for awhile) in a series of hikes that we've done in Utah. While this blog will continue to focus on hiking and places in Northwest Arkansas, I suspect that most readers like hiking and the outdoors in general and would appreciate the posts. Or the photos. 

Last month, we made a return trip to Utah, this time to Northern Utah and Salt Lake City. We didn't have a lot of time, but did want to take a day out to go hiking. Having never been to Salt Lake City, I didn't quite know what to expect. But, the hiking near Salt Lake City was...amazing.

After a fair amount of research, and a friend recommendation, we decided to take the hike to Cecret Lake (Pronounced"Secret"). We had heard the wildflowers in the area were legendary - -and that proved to be 100% true. I'll be posting a lot of pictures -- but they don't do the abundance and vibrancy of the wildflowers justice. All of these pics were taken with an iPhone. 

East of Salt Lake City are three major canyon roads: Mill Creek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon. All three go up into the mountains to the various ski resort areas in the area....all of which have a significant number of hiking trails during the summer. All travel pretty significantly up in the mountains -- which makes for cooler temperatures which we much appreciated on this July day. 

The trail to Cecret Lake is near the resort at Alta. Alta approximately 11 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road -- which is the southern-most of the canyon roads. 

During the busy season, unless hikers arrive really early, they'll be expected to park in a designated parking area at the Albion Base Area, and then take a shuttle bus up to the Cecret Lake Trailhead (as well as other trails in the area).  The buses run approximately every 20 minutes. 

The line was short so we opted to take the shuttle up to the Cecret Lake Trailhead -- and then hiked back down to our car from the Upper Albion Meadows Trail.

The trail takes off behind the parking area/shuttle drop-off point. There are some pit toilets here, and some potable water spigots as well.  The hike takes off gradually up the hill with views in every direction of wildflowers and the surrounding mountains.

The trail climbs very gradually at first. It's a very popular trail, and well-maintained, so it's easy to follow.  And, if I haven't mentioned the wildflowers, they are everywhere: purple, white, yellow, orange, pink - everything. 

I will note here that although you can look for miles in any direction and just see natural beauty and amazement, this is a popular trail, so you will be sharing it with quite a few other people. If you're looking for peace and complete alone time, this probably isn't the best hike. But the trail is popular with good reason.

There are a couple of spur trails on the route up the hill. The one to the left is the Devil's Castle Loop - -a short 1.8 mile loop trail that is also shared with mountain bikes. The one to the right goes to an amazing vista. 

After a little more than .6 miles hiking, the trail starts to ascend aggressively up a wildflower-covered hill. This is the final climb to get to Cecret Lake.

After a couple of switchbacks, at .75 miles the trail reaches Cecret Lake. It's a beautiful, clear, mountain lake. 

There is also a trail that goes all the way around Cecret Lake so you can view it from all angles. It's worth taking the nice stroll and stopping to enjoy all of the views along the way.

I'd estimate the it to be roughly .5 miles hiking to loop around the lake (this is not an official trail distance).

When you've had your fill of Cecret Lake, you can head back to the parking area the way you came. 

On our way back down, I explored the stream a bit along the Devil's Castle Loop - -it was a really pretty mountain stream with more amazing wildflowers.

When we arrived at the trail head, we made the decision to hike the trail back down to the Albion Base Area.

The Upper Albion Meadows Trail descends along the hillside through more amazing mountain views and wildflowers. 

If you are an avid hiker, I'd definitely recommend making the hike back down to the Albion Base parking area vs taking the shuttle back down. It's a beautiful hike.

This is a magnificent area with a lot of trails -- and one I look forward to visiting again at some point. 

Trail Details:

Distance: 1.5 miles round trip to Cecret Lake. The trail around Cecret Lake is approximately .5 miles. The Upper Albion Meadows Trail (back to the parking area) is 2 miles each way. So you can make this a 1.5 mile hike, or up to a 6 mile hike if you hike the Upper Albion Meadows trail both directions.

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. The trails are well-traveled and easy hiking. The Cecret Lake Trail has an elevation gain of 420 feet so there is some climbing. The Upper Albion Meadows Trail has an elevation change of 1100 feet -- so it would be quite a bit of climbing to hike it both directions.

Kid-Friendly: Yes!

Footwear: Hiking boots or trail shoes are preferred. Tennis shoes would work if that's all you have, but the trail is a bit rocky so not preferred.

Hiking Guide: They give out trail maps at the Albion Base Area entrance. 

Star Rating: 5 of 5

Exploring Utah - Tom's Canyon Trail, Kanab, Utah

In our 9 day trip to Utah last fall, no hike surprised us more for its scenery than the Tom's Canyon hike. It was our first day in Utah, and we were in our hotel in Kanab, UT with about a 1/2 day to kill. We hadn't really planned on hiking that day after a long day of travel the day before and a late afternoon event scheduled, but it was a beautiful day and the mountains were calling, so we decided to get out and stretch our legs. Besides, a short hike to get accustomed to the altitude would probably serve us well.

After doing a bit of research, we decided to hike the Tom's Canyon Trail. The trail delivered a fantastic hike through a box canyon filled with great views and wildflowers -- we were shocked that such a great hike existed right in the community of Kanab.

Getting to the Trail Head:

Take Main Street from the intersection of Center and Main (literally in the heart of Kanab) and then turn RIGHT onto 300 North. Go 4 blocks and enter the La Estancia Subdivision. Turn right at the waterwheel and then park along Ladera Street. There is a trail head kiosk on the south side of the street at the curve. This is less than 1 mile from the center of town.

The trail starts off up the hill a bit and heads toward "K-Hill". In many mountain towns, it's common to put the first letter of the town name high up on a mountain overlooking the city, and in this case, "K-Hill" is the hill that that has Kanab's "K".

After just 100 yards or so, the trail splits. The trail to the right is the K-Hill Trail, which is a nice trail in its own right. It's smooth, well traveled, and offers great views of the community of Kanab. Tom's Canyon Trail forks to the LEFT.

The trail turns around the back of the subdivision and relatively close to the rooftops of the houses. However, quickly the trail reaches the back of the subdivision and heads into the canyon beyond. After a short ways, the trail crests over a ridge and the view into Tom's Canyon with little sign of civilization. 

The trail drops down the hill and continues through this valley -- with hills on all sides blocking the views of the community of Kanab. So while at this point the trail is less than 1/2 mile from the city, it feels like it's much further away.

This was our first time to the area, and we were really surprised by the beauty of the wildflowers in the desert. Yellow, purple, white and orange wildflowers covered the landscape making for just a peaceful scene.

While the trail itself seems well-traveled, we were the only ones on the trail on this Saturday afternoon in September.

The trail continues deeper into the canyon as the canyon narrows. 

There wasn't a lot of wildlife on the trail, but we did manage to find this new friend.

After a good distance, the trail crosses a dry creek bed. This, no doubt becomes quite the gully during major rain storms. As with anywhere in southern Utah, be aware of the weather conditions, because these valleys are prone to flash-flooding and they can rise IN A HURRY. So cognizant of weather conditions. 

Shortly after crossing the creek bed, there is another trail head. The trail to the left (that quickly heads UP the hill) is the Cliffs Trail. It runs up on the cliffs (get it?!) and high above the valley and connects with the Squaw Trail. The three can be hiked in tandem and form a nice loop trail -- we will definitely hike these three trails together next time.

We stayed to the right and went into the final stretch of Tom's Canyon. Here, the Canyon narrows considerably. 

The trail passes a little picnic area and then goes a bit further into the canyon before the trail kind of runs out of steam at a "weeping rock" that has a bit of water seeping from it (and a fair number of wildflowers) during the wet season. It was at this point that we decided to turn back, although I suppose the more adventurous might do some bolder hopping up into the canyon. As we were short on time, we opted to simply turn back here.

The trail then heads back the way we came in -- through the canyon and the various wildflowers.

The entire hike is approximately 3 miles round trip. There is a bit of climbing on the trail, but the starting elevation and ending elevation are only about 20 feet difference, so the climbing is minimal. This makes this a pretty moderate hike. The distance, lack of elevation change, proximity to town, and great scenery make this a must-hike if you are spending any length of time in Kanab as a part of your vacation.

Tom's Canyon Trail Details

Distance: 3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Footwear: Trail shoes are fine

Guidebook - The Kanab visitors center has fantastic topographical maps of all of the area trails.

Kid-friendly: Yes

Dog:friendly: Yes

Exploring Utah - Red Canyon

One of the biggest surprises to our trip to Utah last fall was an unexpected stop at Red Canyon. In planning our trip, Red Canyon was an area that I never really saw mentioned. There was only one page on the area in our 300 page travel guide, and barely a mention of it on any of the online planning tools. However, when we passed Red Canyon on the drive to Bryce Canyon, we knew we had to stop in and check it out.

Red Canyon is 14 miles WEST of the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance on Highway 12. We passed the area shortly after turning onto Highway 12 from Highway 89. We took a couple of photos from the highway on the way to Bryce Canyon, but saved time at the end of our day at Bryce to come back and check out a few of the hiking trails here.

You can't miss the Red Canyon, as the highway actually passes through two tunnels carved out of the rock here., and the red rock formations are definitely striking as you drive through.

Red Canyon also has a 9 mile long paved biking trail that looks like a magnificent place for riding.

We stopped back by the Red Canyon Visitors Center which is on the east side of the park. There is a nice visitors center here with water, restrooms and trail maps. While the Red Canyon area is quite large and also contains several horseback riding and ATV trails, the section nearest the visitors center has many family-friendly trails that are for hikers only. And with several trail options, it offers nine different trails that can be combined to form loops that range from .5 miles to 15 miles in length.

In spite of the proximity to the highway, and accessibility, the trails weren't terribly busy when we were there and the scenery was fantastic.

We started hiking on the west side of the visitors center on the Hoodoo Trail. The Hoodoo Trail is a .3 mile loop that goes through the valley through sagebrush, juniper trees and just below two large hoodoos that rest high on the hill that appear as if they are standing watch over the area.

All of the trails are well-marked and easy to follow, and most near the visitors center don't stray very far from the highway, so you can usually avoid any fear of getting lost by knowing where the highway is at all times.

After a short distance, the Hoodoo trail turns to the right and forks. To the left is the Birdseye Trail -- that runs high along the bluffs further west for approximately .8 miles or the Hoodoo Trail continues back to the right. We remained on the Hoodoo trail.

After another short distance, the trail forks again. At this fork, the Hoodoo Trail stays to the right in the valley area and heads back to the visitors center. However, to the left is the Pink Ledges Trail.

The Pink Ledges Trail is a .4 mile trail that runs from the Hoodoo Trail about 200 feet up into the red cliffs, and then back down to the parking area by the visitors center. We turned LEFT here and took the Pink Ledges Trail.

After the climbing on the trail, it provides some spectacular views back to the hoodoos and the valley below.

The "Pink Ledges" name definitely was warranted.

A look back at the trail and the hoodoos.

Really, this was just a fantastic hike throughout. The trail was smooth and easy to follow, and even though there is a slight elevation gain, the trail seemed very family friendly.

The Hoodoo Trail/Pink Ledges Trail loop is roughly a .7 mile hike -- that was filled with incredible scenery and was the perfect spot after a  busy hiking day for us. I'm surprised that this area isn't talked about more, because although it is overshadowed by Bryce Canyon just a few miles away, it is a great experience and would be a great entry point to hiking for a family with young kids or people new to hiking.

We'll definitely plan to spend more time here on our next visit to the area. We were pretty short on time after a busy day of hiking in Bryce Canyon and then heading down to Zion still that evening, but we are glad we made the time for our short hike here.

Trail Notes:

Red Canyon, Hoodoo Trail and Pink Ledges Trail Loop

Distance: .6 miles

Difficulty: easy

Footwear: tennis shoes will be fine

Kid Friendly: Yes!

Star Rating: 4.5 of 5

Exploring Utah - Bryce Canyon - Queens/Navajo Combination Loop

At only 55 square miles (35,835 acres), Bryce Canyon is the smallest of our National Parks, however, it is also one of the most unique. Bryce Canyon is known for its Hoodoos; odd shaped rock formations left due to the erosion from wind and water. 

And there is nowhere in the park that quite showcases these Hoodoos quite like the Bryce Amphitheater.

The Bryce Amphitheater is the heart of Bryce Canyon. You get there by going south on Highway 63 from Highway 12 and going through the main entrance into Bryce Canyon National Park.  You will need to pay the entry fee. 

Highway 63 is a 15 mile long road that runs through Bryce Canyon National Park and dead ends at Rainbow Point. It is the primary access road to the park. 

From the park entrance, the road will pass the Bryce Visitor Center and after approximately 2 miles, there will be a turnoff for Sunrise Point. Find parking in the Sunrise Point area.  There is a fantastic little general store here that will have almost any supplies you would want for the day. 

After getting supplies, the trail will head up a paved path to Sunrise Point -- which features amazing views of the Bryce Amphitheater area. From here, there are dozens of options for trails and routes. One popular route is just to follow the Rim Trail that is a paved path along the entire Rim. It's 11 miles in total length, but the walk from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point is about 1 mile and lovely if you're not up for a hearty hike. There will be a lot of people here as this is a popular stroll for the tour bus crowds.

However, there is another popular loop that starts off at this Sunrise Point that travels down through the valley and offers amazing views of the heart of Bryce Canyon. The trail follows the Queens Garden Trail into the valley where it connects with the Navajo Loop and then climbs back up to Sunset Point -- and then follows the Rim Trail to the parking area. You can see the trail in the photo above - -and it's very easy to follow.

The trail heads down into the valley and winds in and out of a variety of hoodoo formations -- definitely giving hikers a different perspective of the hoodoos and the Amphitheater valley.

So, a quick note about photography in Bryce Canyon. It's a desert -- and there are limited trees and sun in abundant. In addition to the need to wear a lot of sunscreen, these conditions make photography a huge challenge. I highly recommend using a sun shade for your camera lens if you have one. Also, if you are really into photography and don't mind spending a little money, a good filter that can help filter out some of the light will be helpful as well.  

Since I'm a better hiker than photographer, I had neither of these things which made it challenging to get some of the pics I wanted. It also created some challenging moments when I was shooting with one hand and holding my hat in the other to prevent sun spots. I also didn't end up with many good shots facing South. 

I wouldn't feel too sorry for me though -- as I still ended up with hundreds of photos as it seemed that there were amazing views and incredible rock formations at almost every direction I turned.

The trail continues down into the valley. At one point it will intersect with the horse trail at the bottom, so it will be important to be sure you follow the main trail. There will be a lot of people on the main trail, so it was easy enough for us to follow.

 Keep an eye out for the bristlecone pine trees - -some of which are up to 1600 years old!

Have I mentioned the really cool Hoodoos?

Once the trail intersects with the horse trail, the trail turns back toward the the rim - and a lot more cool views and hoodoos.

 And even through a couple of tunnels.

After about 1 mile of hiking (yes, all of these photos are within a 1 mile hike -- did I mention it's scenic?) the trail arrives at the Queens Garden -- which a really relaxing place with a spectacular view of some of the most majestic rock formations in the valley. At Queens Garden, the trail has descended 357 feet into the canyon.

From the Queens Garden, take the Queens Garden Connector Trail as it flows further to the canyon floor.  

This section of trail flows through tall pines that create nice shade and really interesting views of the hoodoos from the canyon floor.

As the trail reaches the canyon floor, it will eventually reach an intersection. This intersection is the connection to the Navajo Loop.

The section to the right goes up past a lot of rock formations, including the very popular Thor's Hammer.  The trail to the left heads up through Wall Street. We chose to do the route through Wall Street.

The route through Wall Street goes through a high-walled canyon before hitting a series of switchbacks that climb 600 feet from the canyon floor to Sunset Point.

The 600 feet climb is a challenging one at 8,000 feet elevation, but the views are fantastic and Wall Street is visually stunning. Take your time climbing, and look back at what you have accomplished. 

After making the accent. The trail arrives at Sunset Point. Take in the views of Sunset Point, and then follow the paved Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point and your vehicle.

Trail Notes:

Distance: 2.9 miles (600 foot elevation change down and then back up)

Difficulty: Moderate

Kid-Friendly: Yes!

Footwear: Good trail shoes would be best, but tennis shoes would be fine

Rating: 5 out of 5 (this may have been our favorite hike out of all the great ones we did in Utah)

Exploring Utah - Bryce Canyon National Park - Mossy Cave Hike

Most of my hiking time is in the Ozarks of Arkansas -- which features an amazing assortment of waterfalls. For all of the great scenery southern Utah has to offer, vast amounts of water in the desert isn't one of them.

So when there became an opportunity to do a waterfall hike in Bryce Canyon, we were definitely up for checking it out.  The Mossy Cave hike is a very short hike (less than 1 mile) and a small 200 foot elevation gain, so it's a great trail for families with young children or people who can't hike long distances. This trail offers a lot for a small amount of effort.

The Mossy Cave Trail is in Bryce Canyon National Park -- but outside of the main area that most people visit and can actually be hiked without paying the park fee. To get to the trailhead, travel EAST on Highway 12 approximately 3.5 miles past the main park entrance. The road will go down a very steep canyon road and the trailhead (with toilets) will be on your right).

The trail begins in a small creek valley called the Tropic Ditch (or I've also seen it called Water Canyon) and past some of Bryce's famous Hoodoos. There are two different bridges that cross the creek.

The waterfall is actually visible from the second footbridge. The falls is roughly 25-30 feet tall and had a nice flow the day we were there in late September.

Just beyond the second bridge crossing, the trail splits. The path to the left goes to Mossy Cave, to the right, the top of Tropic Ditch Waterfall.

Mossy Cave isn't so much a cave as a rock shelter with a lot of moss growing in it. But it does offer the cooling temperatures of a cave which offered a nice respite on this hot day.  Please stay on the trail and the overlook on this one to avoid trampling the delicate moss.

To the right leads to the top of Tropic Ditch Waterfall. While the area always served as a drainage during rainfall, in the 1890s, early Mormon settlers actually dug a trench to connect the drainage to from the East Fork of the Sevier River as a way to supply a consistent water supply to the town of Tropic. The drainage now runs year-around, although the "wet season" is May-October. Other than a short stop during the drought of 2002, the falls has flowed continuously for more than a century thanks to the work by these hard-working pioneers.

To get the the bottom of the falls, it's best to go back to the second footbridge and go down to the drainage at the bridge and then hike back up to the falls. 

The total distance on this hike is 0.8 miles round trip -- so it's short, with a views of a cave, a waterfall and hoodoos which makes for a really nice, easy hike.

Trail Details

Distance: .8 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Kid Friendly: Yes!

Footwear: Tennis shoes would be fine

Rating: 4 out of 5

Exploring Utah - Zion National Park - The Narrows

If you want solidarity, The Narrows may not be the best option for you. But if you're looking for an epic hike through one of the most amazing slot canyons in the United States, you'll want to add this to your list.

The Narrows is a regular on "Top Hikes in the United States" lists -- and for good reason. It's relatively accessible, and unique in that it features the beautiful Virgin River and miles of beautiful, 200 foot tall canyon walls that were carved out by the river over the centuries. It's a hike unlike any other, and for that reason it has become a popular destination for both serious and recreational hikers. 

But be forewarned, the popularity of this hike can cause it to be a little crowded, particularly in the early stages of the hike, so be prepared to deal with more people than you're probably used to and enjoy the beauty. Zion National Park is the 6th most-visited National Park in the US, and The Narrows is one of the more popular hikes there -- so if you go during the busy season, crowds are inevitable. In spite of this, we definitely enjoyed the hike.

One very important note on hiking The Narrows, or any other slot canyon: Please be VERY AWARE of the weather. Water in the slot canyons of Utah can rise VERY quickly if there is rain upstream. And in most slot canyons, it would be impossible without special equipment to get higher than the high-water mark. And because cell service is virtually non-existent, if it's raining upstream, it would be impossible for anyone to get word to you before it's too late. The week prior to our visit (in late September of last year), six canyoneers were killed in a different slot canyon in Zion due to a flash flood in the canyon they were exploring. So before going into the canyon, please check the weather forecast and the rangers station for current conditions to be sure hiking there is safe. 

Now that you're properly frightened, let me also note that when the weather is good, this is a pretty safe hike.  There are two hikes into The Narrows: Top Down and Bottom Up. The Top Down hike requires overnight camping and a special permit -- so is far less popular. The Bottom-Up hike is more accessible, and more crowded. This blog post covers the Bottom Up. 

The trail begins from the Temple of Sinawava shuttle bus stop -- which is the last shuttle stop in Zion Canyon. Unless you are visiting in the off-season, the shuttle will be your only transportation to this point as general automobile traffic is not permitted in Zion Canyon. We found the shuttles to be fantastic and efficient and made the trip in Zion more enjoyable. 

From the shuttle stop, the trail begins along the Riverside Walk Trail. The Riverside Walk Trail is an easy, but beautiful stroll through the canyon, by the river (Pictured directly above).  Even if you aren't up for hiking the Narrows, the River Walk Trail is a great hike for all ages and skill levels and offers a taste of the beauty that exists inside The Narrows.

At 1.1 miles, the Riverside Walk Trail ends at the River. This is the start of the hike into The Narrows. You can see that even though we attempted to get an early start on the hike to avoid the biggest of the crowds, there still are plenty of people at the start of the hike. From this point, the "trail" simply follows the Virgin River upstream into the narrow canyon.

Expect that your feet will get wet (we'll talk about supplies in a bit), but the scenery  here is first class all the way. The past will zig zag across the water, onto dry sides along the river, and back into the river the entire way.

The Narrows trail, from the bottom -up is about 4 miles one way (8 miles round trip). The further you hike into the Narrows, the fewer people that will be there. There are no wrong turns (because you just follow the river and can't turn). And the great thing about hiking out and back is that you don't have to commit to the entire trip, you can just hike out as far as you want (whether that is 1/2 mile or all 4 miles) and come back when you're done.  It makes for an enjoyable day regardless of your age, skill level, and how much time you have.

A little ways into the hike, we came across a small waterfall that came in from another drainage -- which was pretty cool. One our return trip, there was a small group of people repelling down from this drainage.

The Narrows continues back into the Canyon. Because of the high canyon walls, and bright sunlight, that the shadows in The Narrows could be very harsh -- making photography a challenge. 

I really can't say enough great things about the hike -- the water, the canyon walls, it was just simply amazing. 

With new surprises around virtually every corner.

So, let's take a minute to talk about supplies -- as this was my biggest question before heading out on this hike and was difficult to find answers.

The water temperature tends to run about 55 degrees during much of the summer and fall. This sounds really cold -- but I didn't think it felt as cold as would have thought. I think that a person wearing a comfortable pair of water shoes with a protected toe (such as Keen water shoes, or trail shoes) should be fine.

That said, there are several companies that will rent equipment. We stopped in at Zion Adventure Company at rented the basic package for $20 apiece for the day. The basic package included a pair of canyoneer shoes, neoprene socks (to keep your feet warm) and a walking stick.

While both Michelle and I's feet became really uncomfortable late in the day in the shoes (her shoes didn't seem to fit quite right for an 8 mile hike and the insole in mine became dislodged and caused problems) I will say that the good traction of the shoes, the warmth of the socks and the balance provided by the walking stick were worth the small purchase for a once-in-a-lifetime type of trip.

Beyond that, you'll need to pack food, water anything else you'll need for the day. And try to have everything as waterproof as possible, because for the entire hike you'll be a slip away from being completely wet. But being able to simply take in the day, and the surroundings is an amazing experience.

 And while the water on our trip was generally ankle -calf deep, there were places that got deeper and up above the knee.

More photos at the bottom of the post, but trail notes:

Distance: 9 miles roundtrip (can be made shorter to fit personal preference).

Difficulty: Strenuous - -could be easier depending on how far you travel, but hiking through water for 8 miles on a lot of slick rocks takes a lot of energy.

Kid-friendly: Going a short distance with kids would be ok

Footwear: Rented Canyoneer shoes would be preferred, I also recommend a walking stick

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5. 

Exploring Utah - Zion National Park: Weeping Rocks and Hidden Canyon

In our final day at Zion National Park we had about a half day to hike and decided to check out Hidden Canyon, which was recommended to us by some nice folks we met on the park shuttle system a couple of days prior.  

The Hidden Canyon trail starts at the Weeping Rock Trail head and shuttle stop -- and I'd recommend hiking Hidden Canyon and Weeping Rocks in the same hike. In full disclosure, we actually hiked Weeping Rocks a couple of days prior so astute observers will notice the time of day differences in the photos.

And one other note on the photos. I found hiking and photographing Zion National Park to be quite a challenge. We visited in late September and the days were still very hot -- so hiking was better in the early mornings. And while the park is BEAUTIFUL early in the morning before the big crowds arrive, the high canyon walls cast very dark shadows that make photography a huge challenge until mid-day. 

Because of this, you'll likely note that some of these photos appear a little out of sequence - -and that's because I took some photos on the way down the mountain that I'm using to describe the hike up. 

The trail begins at the Weeping Rock shuttle stop and heads up the hill and to the right from the old parking lot. As noted previously, during most of the key season, auto traffic is not allowed in Zion Canyon and you must take the shuttles to the destinations. While this at first seems like it would be a hassle, the shuttles are efficient and timely, and really make the park more enjoyable than if there were hoards of automobiles. It also makes some of the old parking areas be completely empty when they would otherwise be completely crowded  and adds sort of a surreal feel to some areas.

A few hundred yards up the trail and the trail splits. The trail to the left leads to Weeping Rock. 

Weeping Rock is a unique and popular attraction in Zion. Essentially, water has seeped into the ground high above this spot in Echo Canyon. However, the water hits a very dense rock layer and has to find a way to escape and it does here at Weeping Rock causing a slow and steady trickling of water from the rock surface.

The view from Weeping Rock is also quite nice. 

Weeping Rock is only .2 miles from the parking area and a 100 foot elevation change -- so it's a common destination (for good reason!) for families with young children and those who don't have the ability to hike long distances. 

Back down to the main trail, begins the hike up to Hidden Canyon. The early part of this trail is actually a part of three trails: Hidden Canyon, Observation Point and the East Rim Trail -- and is a steep climb and heads up more than 850 feet in total elevation. Take your time and again note that the early morning shade makes for more pleasant hiking.

After a fair amount of climbing, there is another trail intersection. Hidden Canyon is to the right. The other two trails go left.

From here, the trail curves around the side of the mountain and continues up (but at a more leisurely pace than before). 

The trail turns to the right here and continues up the side of the next bluff. This section of trail is VERY interesting. It mostly follows a relatively thin ridge along the bluff that has a VERY steep and deadly drop to the right. There are chains along the left hand side that help provide support. 

This section of trail somewhat resembles the adrenaline of the climb at Angel's Landing, except that it is less traveled, maybe a little smoother, and the trail itself is more photogenic. 

After the trail follows some pretty challenging sections for about .2 miles, it eventually arrives at the canyon level -- allowing you to breath a bit more normally for awhile.  This section is very cool and has amazing views of the canyon below.

From here, the trail heads back into hidden canyon.

It's a really pretty area, and if you keep your eyes peeled,  you never quite know what you'll find. 

From here, the trail mostly follows in between two canyon walls and is mostly on the level -- although, at times, there are obstacles that you have to climb over to continue.

The trail continues on the level for quite awhile. It includes a lot of really interesting high canyon walls, and and occasional glimpse of more mountains in the distance. 

There is also a really interesting 12 foot tall natural arch in the middle of the canyon.

Eventually, the maintained part of the trail ends and the hiking becomes more challenging. At one point the boulder-hopping became a bit too much for us (along with having many miles of hikes under our belt for the week and we were tired), so we used this as an excuse to turn back; although several others continued on from here. 

The trail then follows back the way it came. As noted previously, the lighting for photography was a lot better on the way back which allowed for some better photo ops. 

This is a beautiful trail and I greatly enjoyed the views of the steep drop-offs and the valley below.

And this comes with a major disclaimer. This is a national park. They've put in a LOT of precautions to help people remain safe. And most people remain safe on these trails. But they are wild areas and one slip would almost assuredly mean death -- so make smart decisions accordingly, including watching your step, being sure your feet are set before taking a photo and don't shuffle your feet while looking through a camera lens and holding onto the chain when it is available to you. 

Hidden Canyon Trail Overview

Distance: 2.4 miles round trip

Difficulty: Strenuous

Kid-Friendly: No -- if you have kids, just go to Weeping Rocks

Footwear: Trail Shoes are fine

Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Exploring Utah - Zion National Park Wildlife

Zion National Park is known for its amazing sheer bluffs and canyons. And unlike many of the more popular National Parks like Rocky Mountain, Glacier and Yellowstone, Zion is not necessarily known for its wildlife viewing.  That doesn't mean there aren't amazing opportunities to see wildlife there though.

Michelle and I had spent the day at Bryce Canyon and were coming into Zion for the night. We were entering on Highway 9 from East of the park -- right around dusk.

This is an amazing drive for a lot of reason -- including the beautiful views and an incredible 1.1 mile tunnel that was build through the mountain wall back in the 1920s -- an amazing engineering feet for the time.

But as we came out from the tunnel, the evening wildlife had emerged - -and served as our welcoming committee to the park. 

The Bighorn Sheep in Zion are desert bighorns -- while smaller than the kind we are used to seeing in Glacier National Park, they are no less impressive. Previously and sadly, these native sheep were nearly killed off in the middle of the previous century -- but they were reintroduced into the park in 1973 and have since grown to a population of nearly 500 sheep.

The sheep frequent this area in the evenings. There are huge "beehive" rock formations around and they seem to make there way along these amazing rock formations very easily.  

If you look at the picture above, we tried to take the picture of the sheep in the middle. However, if you click on the picture to get a bigger version of it, you'll see nearly a dozen bighorns in the top part of the pic that we didn't even see at the time.

We very much were looking forward to checking out this area again but overnight, a large boulder fell onto the highway blocking it entirely for the duration of our trip. So while I'm sad that we weren't able to go see the bighorns again, I'm happy my car wasn't under the boulder when it fell. 

Exploring Utah - Emerald Pool Trails, Zion National Park

While this blog generally features articles about different hiking excursions, waterfalls and places to see in Northwest Arkansas, I thought readers might also enjoy some pictures from our hikes in Southern Utah last fall. Southern Utah was a bucket list destination for us and it was an amazing trip. 

Four days from our trip were spent in Zion National Park. Zion has more than its share of epic hikes, but also has a few good short hikes that are good for families and and those that aren't able to make long hikes with high elevation changes and sheer cliffs. One of those hikes is the Emerald Pools area. Because of the short distance and the relative ease of the trail, it is a VERY popular trail, so just go in knowing there will be a lot of people around. 

This hike is actually two hikes combined into one lower hike. The first 1/2 mile of the trail goes to the Lower Emerald Pools and the 2nd half mile to the Upper Emerald Pool. While the Upper Pool is a bit more challenging to get to, both are pretty accessible.

The hike starts off from the Zion Lodge and heads out across Zion Canyon Road and the Virgin River. 

The trail turns right and heads along the Virgin River for awhile and then turns LEFT. The canyon and the River provide beautiful scenery along the way.

At .5 miles, a tall waterfall with a light flow comes into view. The trail continues into the bluff and turns right -- essentially the trail goes right into the bluff line that causes the waterfall and continues back behind (and under!) the waterfall. At .6 you are directly behind the falls and this is the Lower Emerald Pool area. 

The trail continues around the corner and up the hill slightly -- looking back gives you some great views of the waterfall and the trail below it.

The trail then turns left and goes through a narrow opening between two large rocks and turns left again to the Middle and Upper Emerald Pools.  After about .8 miles  the trail arrives at the Middle Emerald Pool.

This area is the top of the waterfall you just walked under and has magnificent views of the valley below.

The trail continues for another .2 miles to the Upper Emerald Pool. From this part of the trail you get expansive views of the valley and a lot of amazing wildflowers growing along the rocky sides of the trail.

After another .2 miles, the trail arrives to the Upper Emerald Pool. The Upper Pool sits in a very large canyon and is very peaceful. It was definitely our favorite of the three pools. 

From here, the only option is to turn around and come back the way you came. At the point where the trail turns back toward the Lower Emerald Pool you can alternately turn LEFT and take the Kenyenta Trail which travels 1 mile to The Grotto and catch the shuttle there. We went back via the Lower Emerald Pool Trail and back to Zion Lodge where we grabbed a beer at the lodge to end our first day in the park.

Trail Notes

Distance: 2.2 Miles round trip to visit all three pools. 1.2 miles round trip to the Lower Emerald Pool and waterfall only

Elevation Change: 200 feet to the Upper Pool. 69 to the Lower Pool

Footwear:  Tennis Shoes will be fine for the Lower Pool, I would recommend trail shoes to get to the upper falls

Difficulty: Easy to the Lower Pool, Moderate to the Upper.

Kid Friendly: Yes

Star Rating: 3.5 of 5 

Exploring Utah - Angel's Landing, Zion National Park

While the focus of this blog is primarily to chronicle different hiking/outdoors experiences near our cabin in Northwest Arkansas, on occasion I mention other trips and destinations that I think readers of this blog might be interested in. I figure, people who spend a lot of time in the outdoors are interested in other outdoors destinations. I know I am.

Last fall, Michelle and I got the opportunity to take a trip that has been on my bucket list for awhile as it is one of the premier hiking destinations in the United States - -Southwest Utah. In particular, we spent several days in Zion National Park and hiked many trails throughout the park and region.

Angel's Landing is one of the more popular trails in Zion National Park -- and for good reason. And in spite of the reality that it makes a lot of lists for most dangerous hiking trails, and the park's warnings about its dangers, adventure seekers are eager to take this trail for it's adrenaline rush and amazing views of Zion Canyon

The trail starts at The Grotto Trailhead. Automobile traffic is no longer allowed in Zion Canyon throughout most of the year, so you'll need to take one of the park's shuttle buses that run continuously throughout the day. I found the shuttles to be very efficient, and we never had to wait more than 10 minutes for one so I found the shuttles to be a great service and the lack of auto traffic added to the serenity of the area. 

From the Grotto, you cross the road and then immediately over a bridge over the Virgin River and then the trail turns right along the river. 

The trail is a gradual uphill grade at first -- and your destination, Angel's Landing looms in the distance. The valley here is beautiful and enjoy the peaceful stroll.

I'll also note that unlike many other Western national parks, Zion doesn't show the same density of wildlife as other places, but we did see a fair amount of deer, turkeys, mountain goats, and other wildlife in the park --plus, we got to see this tarantula on our route.

Gradually the grade starts getting steeper as the trail starts its accent to the top of the mountain. In total, the trail has a 1488 foot elevation change over the course of just 2.7 miles -- so it is steep, and rugged. Take your time, drink plenty of water, and enjoy the views of the valley that exist at virtually every turn. Also, I recommend getting on this trail early in the morning (by around 9:30 or so) as the sun pops out around the mountains by late morning and hiking up the mountain in the heat of the sun isn't something I'd wish to do.  

If you look closely at the picture above, you'll see glimpses of people on the trails above. Again, just take your time, takes some breaks, and enjoy the view of the valley that gets deeper and deeper below.

Eventually, you'll get to the canyon that separates the mountains and the trail heads up through the canyon with a little stream one one side and steep stone walls on both sides. This area is called Refrigerator Canyon and you'll enjoy the cooling effect after the steep climb. 

As you get to the end of the canyon, the trail turns back right and heads UP Walters Wiggles -- a series of steep switchbacks that head up the mountain. At the top of Walters Wiggles is Scouts Landing.  Scouts Landing has amazing views of the valley and is a nice resting spot before continuing on the climb. 

At this point, the majority of the distance of the trail is behind you -- but much of the elevation gain is yet to come. Beyond here is a lot of climbing, narrow paths and steep drop offs. Scouts Landing becomes a really good spot for those in your group that choose to not make the final climb to wait while the rest of the group goes further. I don't recommend that elderly, young kids, anyone who is afraid of heights, anyone who gets vertigo, or anyone who  is terribly clumsy to go further.

Disclaimers aside, I found the hike up to be a little less intimidating than I expected, and the help of chains made it a comfortable climb. Just take your time, and be patient with people ahead of you, and be smart about passing people going the opposite direction. Surprising few people unintentionally fall off of Angel's Landing, so you don't want join the list of those.

I will note though, that if you do make a slip, there are no second chances. So stay safe -- and if you aren't comfortable with your ability to remain safe, then by all means, turn back.

After a little less than a 1/2 mile, and 500 feet of climbing from Scouts Landing, you'll reach the top of Angel's Landing. The surface gets flat and walkable, and a little wider to your heartbeat can slow down a little. From here, you will have a 270 degree view of Zion Canyon - and it is.....Amazing.

I highly recommend taking a lunch and/or some snacks and just sitting and joying the beauty of the area around you. THIS is why people flock to this trail, and it's worth really soaking in.

Once you've enjoyed the area, it is time to head back the way you came. I also found that taking pictures of the trail heading back down worked better than taking them on the way up. 

Again, just take your time. And watch your step.

And as you get to Scouts Landing, be sure to look back and appreciate what you accomplished.

As we wound our way back down the mountain it was really fun getting to see the excitement and anticipation of others who were making the trek up. By this point, the sun was on the full side of the mountain and I was definitely glad we were heading down and not up! 

At the bottom of the trail, a look back up the Virgin River Valley and Angel's Landing in the background made for a wonderful way to reflect on how we spent a remarkable day and appreciate why this is one of the more popular hiking destinations in the US.

Trail Notes:

Distance: 5.4 miles round trip

Elevation Change: 1,488 feet

Difficulty: Very Difficult

Footwear: Trail shoes or tennis shoes will be fine -- just be sure you wear something with really great traction. 

Kids: Not suitable for y oungsters

Stars: 5 out of 5